Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ How the Past Can Change ❯ Family Meeting ( Chapter 23 )

How the Past can Change

A K&K Rurouni Kenshin Romance FanFiction

by: bunny ;D

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters...I'm just a fan, and I have no money anyways, so NO SUING ME!! :D

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------

A/N: This story is altering the original story of Rurouni Kenshin / Samurai X. It also has some OOCness, (especially with Battousai.) If you don't like that idea, or can't handle it…I would advise you not to read this fic. If you are a hard core Tomoe and Kenshin forever kind of person, I would advise you to not read this fic. Don't get me wrong, I like Tomoe, this is just a different story ok?

Ja ne,

Bunny ;D

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

"Shh…it's ok, it was just a dream. See, I'm right here, and I'm ok." Kenshin whispered to her as she continued to quietly cry onto his chest.

"No, it was horrible," Kaoru insisted, "I was there too, but I was all grown up, and…and…and," Kaoru stopped and cried more.

Kenshin patted her hair, in a gesture of comfort as his mind reeled with questions. 'Is is possible that she is remembering what happened with the other Kaoru who came to the past? But then, wouldn't I have the rurouni's memories as well? What does this mean? Is it all just some sort of coincidence?' As his mind continued to bombard him with questions, Kaoru's sniffling quieted, and Kenshin soon realized that she had fallen back asleep. He smiled as he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to her room. He carefully placed her back under her covers and then made a quick exit from the room, heading back to his own for a long, sleepless night, full of many questions, none of them being answered.

Tetsuro, having witnessed the whole encounter between Kaoru and Kenshin, also went back to bed. He, however, had a satisfied smile on his face, knowing that his daughter had chosen and good and honorable man to be her husband, despite his past mistakes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

Chapter Twenty-Three

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------

~ 9 Years Later ~

A 16-year-old Kaoru paused for a moment in her sweeping to gaze at Kenshin doing the laundry. This was no unusual thing, in fact everyday she would sweep the porch and the courtyard while Kenshin dutifully washed the clothes. Despite being a self-proclaimed tomboy, on most days while she was sweeping, she would daydream of castles, princesses, and shining knights, starring her and the man she stared at. She was still a girl, after all, and like all other girls, had her favorite fantasies. And what fantasies they were. Today though, was different. There was something in the air today, and Kaoru couldn't quite put her finger on it, but instead of her usual daydreams, she found herself reflecting on her life, reflecting on Kenshin, and worrying about her father. All Kaoru knew was that something was going to happen. Something was going to happen that was going to change her life, and it was going to happen soon. She just didn't know what it was, or if it would be a change for the better, or a change for the worse. Thus, her lack of daydreams for the day...

Although, having lived with her and her Father for several years, in some ways, Kenshin was still such a great mystery to her. The day she had met him, he had said that he was a wanderer, and that he may have to leave at anytime. He had left a few times, but he had always come back within a week or two. Why he had left in the first place had never been never discussed with her, it had been matters between her Father and Kenshin only. Kaoru didn't mind, as long as he came back to her, she was happy. However, today memories of Kenshin leaving, and coming back and never discussing it with her was bothering her. She furrowed her brows in worry as she wondered exactly what it was that the two men had been keeping from her all these years.

That wasn't the only great mystery about Kenshin. No, he was full of many secrets, and even more surprises, but today seemed to be the day for Kaoru to brew over them all in her mind. Kenshin…and her, well, they had always had a very special relationship. A connection if you will. Kaoru liked to think the connection was that they were in love with each other, but those were her fantasies. In the real world, Kaoru was not sure exactly what the connection was between herself and Kenshin. Kenshin was so hard to understand sometimes. When she had been younger, he had been very loving and affectionate with her. They had always talked about how they would get married when Kaoru was older. But then, after Kaoru's 13th birthday, things had changed. For the past 3 years, Kenshin had withdrawn himself from her on that level. It made Kaoru so sad, wondering if she had done something wrong, or, even worse, if Kenshin had just been playing into her childhood fantasies, but once she was old enough, backed-off, not wanting to string her along. Even still, Kaoru had a hope. She remembered very well the morning after Kenshin had arrived and he had looked into her eyes and promised in all seriousness to her that they would be married when she was older. Unconsciously, Kaoru let a deep sigh escape her lips. 'Now that I'm old enough to marry…he's not even noticed me.' She thought as she let out another deep sigh and continued her sweeping.

Kenshin, hearing Kaoru's sighs, turned away from the laundry to look at an almost replica of the young woman who had suddenly come into his life and stolen his heart many years before. This past year had been the worst for him since he had decided to live here at the dojo with Kaoru and her Father. Not because he didn't enjoy their company, but more that Kaoru was now all grown up, in every way, and it was very hard for Kenshin to restrain himself around her. He had started backing off on the hugs and kisses and talking about getting married once Kaoru became a teenager. He didn't want Tetsuro to think he had broken his promise, and he also wanted Kaoru to decide for herself if she really loved him or not.

But as for him…he loved her more and more with each day. Being able to share in Kaoru's childhood, becoming her friend, and learning everything about her, had been better than he had ever dreamed it would be. As wonderful as that all was though, having her there, right there, with him all the time, and not being able to tell her how much he loved her and wanted to be with her forever, was tearing him apart.

Kenshin let a small-frustrated groan escape his own lips as Kaoru sighed once again. 'I wonder what she is sighing about?' he thought before saying. "Is something bothering you, Kaoru?"

Startled at Kenshin's voice, Kaoru slightly jumped as she brought her head up to look at Kenshin. "Hmm?" she asked him.

Kenshin frowned a bit in worry over Kaoru's inattentiveness. Usually she was so in tune with what was going on around her. 'I wonder what has her so distracted?' he asked himself before repeating his question. "Is something bothering you, Kaoru?"

Kaoru let out another deep sigh, over Kenshin's concern. 'There he goes again with his mixed signals,' she lamented. "I'm fine, Kenshin. I'm just thinking." She replied.

Kenshin's brows lifted in curiosity. "What were you thinking about?" he asked.

"It-it's just that," Kaoru sighed again, "I have this feeling. This feeling that something really big is going to happen to me, or to us, or all of us rather, and I don't know if it's a good thing, or a bad thing. Do you have a feeling like that too Kenshin?" she asked.

Kenshin frowned once again at Kaoru's confession. "Kaoru," he said, as he took a step closer to her, "I…-"

"KENSHIN!! KAORU!!" Tetsuro yelled from the porch, interrupting their conversation.

Both of them turned their heads to see Tetsuro beckoning them to join him inside the house.

"We're cleaning up right now Papa!" Kaoru yelled back, and turned her attention back to Kenshin.

"Never mind your chores for now, both of you, inside the house, immediately, we have something important to discuss!" Tetsuro yelled back to them, and then headed into the house, knowing that they would soon follow.

Kaoru pouted as she put her broom away and scuttled into the house after her Father. It had appeared that Kenshin was going to open up to her, tell her something big, something important, and then her Father had to ruin it.

Kenshin frowned as he wiped his hands clean from the water and soap before heading into the house. He knew that Tetsuro had just returned from an important meeting in town. He had been surprised to learn, not long after becoming a member of the family, that Tetsuro worked for the sword-bearing Metropolitan police. Today, there had been a very important meeting about the conflicts going on in the southwest and Kenshin was worried that they would make Tetsuro leave to fight. Even though they were not related by blood, Kenshin and Tetsuro had quickly fallen into the father-son relationship that had been established upon Kenshin's arrival, they had confided in each other over the years and they were now also the closest of friends. Kenshin was concerned; in fact he was very concerned. He knew, that soon, Kaoru was to lose her father, he wasn't sure how, but he knew the time was coming, and he did not want it to happen.

--------------------------------------------------------- --------------------

Kaoru and her Father looked up at Kenshin as he entered the room, and then sat down in his place next to Kaoru, across the table from Tetsuro. He repressed a sigh at Tetsuro's set jaw, and Kaoru's big eyes, envisioning what the room would be like in only a few minutes from now.

First Tetsuro reached across the table and took Kaoru's hand into his own. He smiled at her. "Kaoru…" he began, "you are very special to me, and now that you are all grown up, I want you to know that I am very proud of you." He said.

Kaoru looked at their hands and then back up to her Father and said, "What is it?"

Tetsuro let out a nervous chuckle. "Oh, my dear little Kaoru, always one to cut to the chase…right Kenshin?" Tetsuro commented.

Kenshin remembered her marriage request as he grinned knowingly and agreed.

Not put off at their comments, Kaoru asked again, "What is it, Father?"

Tetsuro sobered and sighed. "Kaoru," he said and then looked over at Kenshin, "Kenshin," he said and then looked at both of them. "I've called this family meeting to inform the two of you that I have been given the honor of traveling to the southwest to stop the conflicts going on down there." He finished and then sighed once again.

Kaoru sat their wide-eyed for a moment as the information soaking in before yelling, "WHAT!!! You can't possibly be serious!! You will be killed Father, you cannot go!! I insist!"

Knowing immediately what the outcome of Tetsuro going southwest would be, Kenshin grimaced. After Kaoru's outburst, Kenshin spoke up quietly, "perhaps, it would be best if I could go in your place?"

Tetsuro glared at Kenshin. "Do not even suggest such a thing Kenshin. You are staying right here, with Kaoru. Don't you dare even think about going back on your promise now." He said.

Kenshin frowned, knowing this was not the time or the place to have such a discussion. Kaoru would already have a million questions for them with that one comment and he didn't want to add fuel to her fire.

"What promise?" Kaoru asked. When she didn't get an answer from her Father, she turned her bright blue eyes to Kenshin and asked him, "What promise Kenshin?"

Kenshin scowled back at Tetsuro, infuriated that the older man would say such things in front of Kaoru. Part of the promise was that Kaoru would not know about the it, and here Tetsuro was telling him not to break it! He suppressed a growl as he turned to Kaoru. "Don't worry about it right now, Kaoru, I will tell you some other time about our promise." Kenshin said to her.

"Why?" she asked, "Why can't you tell me now? My Father is leaving me, and he's demanding a promise from you, I think I have every right to know what it is!" she demanded.

Kenshin sighed in defeat. Before he could start to explain to Kaoru, Tetsuro stepped in. Leaning over the table, he took Kenshin's hand and placed Kaoru's small hand inside of his. Kenshin and Kaoru's eyes both widened, realizing what Tetsuro was saying. "You will have to take care of each other now. As Kaoru said, there is a very good chance that I will not make it back." Tetsuro finally said.

"But Father…" Kaoru began, tears starting to slowly make their way down her cheeks at her acceptance of what he was saying.

Tetsuro held up his hand, warning Kaoru to let him finish. "Kaoru, as you know, you are the sole heir of this property. You will have to teach the students in my absence, and should I not return, Kenshin will be the one to teach you the succession technique." Both of them remained in silent shock as Tetsuro finished what he had come to say. "I am leaving tomorrow morning, and that it all that will be discussed on this topic." Tetsuro stood and just before departing the room said, "Kenshin, I will need to discuss a few things with you later, privately, regarding that promise."

"Yes." Kenshin said to his father-in-law's departing back.

Kaoru looked down on the table at her and Kenshin's entwined hands and sadly reflected that her dreams of Kenshin might come true, but that this was not the way she would have wanted it. Not with the departure of her Father. No, never like that.

"Kaoru…" Kenshin said softly to her as she stared at their hands.

Kaoru lifted her head and looked into Kenshin's concerned violet eyes. "Oh Kenshin…this is so horrible!" she exclaimed as she threw herself into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably into his shoulder, their fingers remaining entwined between them.

--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

A/N: Ok, so as much as I want to keep going…I think this is a good stopping point. ;D I'm really, really, really, really sorry for taking so long to get this updated. I know some of you are probably about ready to fry yourself a little bunny…but…pouts…please forgive me!! You don't want to hear the details on all the craziness that has been going on in my life, so I will spare you the gory details, but trust me when I say that I haven't been able to update. ;(

Anyhow, here is a quick preview of the next chapter:

--------------------------------------------------------- --------------------

Late that night, Kenshin met Tetsuro in the dojo as they always did when a private discussion needed to take place between them.

Tetsuro looked up at the sound of the door closing, and smiled at Kenshin. "Well, since I'm not sure if I will be coming back or not, I thought that now would be the time for you to tell me the things that you were unable to tell me when you first arrived here 9 years ago."

"You mean, how I was already in love with your daughter?" Kenshin questioned.

Tetsuro nodded his head in affirmation.

"Ok then," Kenshin said as he sat down, "I will tell you. Kaoru-dono and I first met during the Bakumatsu no Doran…" Kenshin began.

--------------------------------------------------------- -------------------

Thank you bunches to all my loyal readers and everybody who has ever left me a review. I just love to hear from you guys! As an update on the WAFF RK Reader's Choice Awards, I got 2nd place, or runner up…anyhow, thank you bunches to everyone who voted for me, I feel so honored, and many, many congrats to Anna-Neko who was the winner. I just love all her fics. ;)

I also wanted to send out a big huge hug and a great big thanks to hineko who beta read this chapter, and who is helping me fix up all the older chapters as well.

I feel a party coming on…so if you want in on it, make sure you let me know ;)

Ja mata,

Bunny ;D